Camping With Friends

We were invited to go camping some friends in our ward. We were really excited since we had only gone once this year and this might be the last chance to go before it gets to cold. We had a lot of fun.







What is it with boys and being in the outdoors?

Hiking

Today we had a great day hiking with a couple of other families in our ward. We started early in the morning, ate lunch at the top of the trail and then hiked back down. It was the perfect day. Overcast so we weren't hot, but it wasn't cold either. The hike was easy enough that Ethan was able to hike the whole thing all by himself with his friends.





Along the way, we ran into some interesting wildlife. We actually heard this one before we found it just off the trail.


Here's the view from the trail. That's Denver you can see off in the background.


From the trail we could see the Red Rocks Amphitheater. Papi says it's one of the neatest outdoor venues for concerts. He really wants to go to a concert there someday. He's wanted to ever since U2 played there back in 1983.

"Sprayground"

So today Mommy and Ethan went to a local "sprayground" with a few of the gang. What kid doesn't like getting wet and playing in sand on a hot day? Too bad Papi had to work today. He'd be as wet as the other boys!

A Year of Firsts

Ethan's had a lot of firsts this year - his first bike, his first garden and now, his first sting. Kristie and Ethan were playing at a local park with the neighbors when both boys started crying. Turns out there was a hornet nest close by and the hornets were none too happy about two little boys getting so close to home. Ethan got lucky with just one sting to his ear.

Here's Ethan's normal ear.


Here's Ethan's stung ear all swollen and red.


Ethan's a total trooper though. He got over it pretty quick once he started helping Mommy to roll out pizza dough.


Now Ethan knows that hornets, wasps and bees all have stingers in their "bums." He thinks it's pretty funny.

Jolly Green Giant

We had a pretty decent crop this year in our garden. This was just one of a few giant zucchini we let get away from us.

GRADUATION DAY!!!!

Cory's last graduation EVER. Today Cory graduated from University of Denver's Graduate Tax program receiving his LL.M. which is a master's degree in taxation. So far Cory has earned his Associates, Bachelors, Juris Doctorate (law degree), and LL.M. Not bad for a kid who never wanted to go to college! Of course, none of it would have been possible without his very supportive and VERY understanding wife to whom he is eternally grateful. He is now duty bound to shower her with unending praise, compliments and gifts (not necessarily in that order).





We were very glad that Cory's parents and most of his family could make the drive out to Denver to be with us today. Cory was especially excited to have them here.



Cory really hopes Ethan will follow in his footsteps someday.


Here is where Cory spent pretty much all of his time for the past year.

Our First MLB Game

Today we went to Coors Field to watch the Colorado Rockies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was everyone' first MLB game.

Our First Garden

We decided to try our hand at gardening this year and see how green our thumbs really are. We managed to get in a fairly good crop growing tomatoes, tomatillos, green peppers, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, carrots, jalapeños and corn.







Ethan loves to hide in the tomato plants.





The zucchini was coming in faster than we could pick it!

Working On The Bike

Ethan loves his new "big boy" bike and couldn't wait to help Papi tinker on it.

Daddy's Little Helper

Today, Cory fixed Grandma Lolee's swamp cooler, and Ethan assisted him in the process. Luckily, Grandma's roof is not too steep. We remember seeing a picture of Kristie's brother, Alan, at Ethan's age on a garage roof in Elmo, Utah, and thinking that we'd never let our child do something like that. Guess we were wrong.

Day at Lagoon

Instead of throwing Ethan a birthday party this year, we took him to Lagoon. Ethan invited cousin Jarom to go with us, and Grandma Noni also came along to enjoy the day.

The first ride of the day was the bumper cars. Ethan had a hard time figuring his out a first, but he still thought it was fun.


In Pioneer Village, Ethan and Jarom each won a dragon. Ethan named his "Slayer" and Jarom's was "Blast."


The boys on the kiddie rides.






Ethan and Jarom also enjoyed some of the adult rides like the Tidal Wave and Tilt-a-Whirl.